Alumni & Friends Profile

William M. Layson (Ph.D. '63),
The Presidential Fellowships in Physics

William M. Layson (Ph.D. '63)

“I think of physical science as an intellectual
structure, much like a brick wall,”
says Bill Layson PhD ’63. “Each of the
bricks placed earlier supports those which are placed later.”

Recently retired as Senior Vice President of Science Applications International
Corporation, a Fortune 500 company, Bill feels the best way he can
contribute to that structure is through “a surrogate—a young physicist who
must have some resources in order to make his contribution to the structure.”

“MIT taught me the experimental process for problem solving. It works in
business and it works in physics. I would encourage all young physicists to
keep their focus on physics for as long as possible. The deeper you dig the
more rewarding it will be, for few things can be more satisfying than
research.”

William M. Layson has endowed a Presidential Fellowship in physics—a
stipend and tuition grant that enables a young physicist to contribute to the
structure without restriction as to research area. “I take great pleasure in the
thought that this young physicist’s research might make the structure more
complete,” says Layson.